Lyrics & Translation
Learning a language through music is a powerful experience, and "Ich war hier" by Alin Coen Band is a perfect song to start with German. Its clear, emotional lyrics about love and longing allow you to connect with universal feelings while picking up poetic vocabulary and phrasing. The song's narrative structure makes it easy to follow the story of unrequited love, making the language learning process both engaging and touching.
I want to reprogram my mind - it just keeps resisting.
And when I think I've got myself trapped,
everything just tips over, but I don't want to ask for anything.
It doesn't look like there are chances,
but I stick to the course—full speed ahead.
I write on your wall: "Here's the door".
And I run straight into it, trying to feel something.
And the more I seek your closeness, the further you move away.
And even though I curse myself for it, I don't quite give up hope.
The solution is missing, and I think: "I need to get far away",
so I make a plan—and I won't move from this spot.
And when I think I've overcome it, a new reason is immediately invented.
I'll try again, look at this!
Another attempt, just one more!
I write on your wall: "This is the way".
And I scratch at the cracks so something stirs.
And the longer I stand still, the more it feels pointless.
Because nothing moves forward, I just get lost in it.
As much as I regret it, I can't get to you.
And I write on your wall: "I was here".
And the further I go away, the easier it gets to understand.
I know you like me a lot too—just with a bit of distance.
Key Vocabulary
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Key Grammar Structures
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Ich werd in meine Hand tätowiern: "Ich lass los".
➔ Future tense with 'werden' to express intention.
➔ The phrase "Ich werd" indicates a future intention to get a tattoo.
-
Es sieht zwar nicht nach Chancen aus, doch den Kurs, den halt ich - volle Kraft voraus.
➔ Concessive clause with 'zwar' to express contrast.
➔ The use of "zwar" indicates that despite the lack of chances, the speaker remains determined.
-
Und ich renne fest dagegen, damit ich irgendetwas spür'.
➔ Purpose clause with 'damit' to express intention.
➔ The phrase "damit ich irgendetwas spür'" indicates the intention behind the action of running.
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Und ich schreib auf deine Mauer: "Ich war hier".
➔ Present tense to express a current action.
➔ The phrase "Ich schreib" indicates an action that is happening now.
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Und je mehr ich deine Nähe such', desto weiter rückst du fort.
➔ Comparative structure to express increasing degree.
➔ The phrase "je mehr... desto weiter" indicates that as the speaker seeks closeness, the distance increases.
